Full Breakdown
Trump Approves Firing-Squad Execution of Fort Hood Shooter Nidal Hasan
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Presidential Approval of a Military Execution
On October 5, 2026 Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced that President Donald J. Trump approved a firing-squad execution for Nidal Malik Hasan, the former Army major convicted of the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recommended the method and the Secretary of the Army will determine the time and place. If carried out, Hasan would be the first service member executed by the U.S. military since April 13, 1961.
Background & Context
The attack occurred on November 5, 2009 at Fort Hood, Texas, when Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, entered a medical processing building, shouted “Allahu Akbar,” and opened fire with a laser-sighted handgun. The rampage killed 13 people—including 12 soldiers and one civilian—and wounded 32 others. Hasan was shot by a civilian police officer, survived, and was later confined to a wheelchair.
Hasan was tried by court-martial in August 28, 2013, representing himself and offering no defense. He was convicted of 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder and sentenced to death. The conviction survived appellate review and was affirmed in March 2024. The Supreme Court declined to hear his petition on March 31, 2025. Under Article 57 of the UCMJ, a military death sentence cannot be carried out without the President’s written approval, after which the Secretary of the Army sets execution details.
Data & Statistics
- 13 fatalities and 32 injuries in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting.
- 4 inmates remain on U.S. military death row, including Hasan.
- The last U.S. military execution was the hanging of Pvt. John Bennett on April 13, 1961.
- Army regulation requires an execution to occur no sooner than 60 days and no later than 150 days after presidential approval.
Official Statements & Responses
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who recommended the method, said he is “100% committed to ensuring the death penalty is carried out for Nidal Hasan.” President Trump’s approval aligns with his administration’s broader reinstatement of the federal death penalty in January 2025. The Pentagon emphasized that the approval satisfies the presidential step required by military law; further judicial review, including possible habeas-corpus petitions, may still affect the timeline.
Criticism & Opposition
The advocacy group Death Penalty Action condemned the decision, stating, “There is nothing Donald Trump loves more than the power to kill.” Legal scholars note that presidential approval does not guarantee execution, citing the halted 2008 military execution of Ronald Gray after a court injunction.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the most recent U.S. military firing-squad execution. Some outlets cite Eddie Slovik as the last such use, while others reference the 1961 hanging of John Bennett as the most recent military execution of any method. The exact location for Hasan’s execution remains unspecified; reports mention the Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth or a possible transfer to the federal facility in Terre Haute, Indiana.
What’s Next
The Secretary of the Army must now set the execution’s date and venue. Army policy dictates the execution occur between 60 and 150 days after the presidential approval, but ongoing habeas-corpus challenges could extend the timeline indefinitely. The case continues to be monitored by military legal experts and death-penalty advocacy groups as the first U.S. military execution in over six decades approaches.